A gathering space for exploring live events and community and interaction
Common Room runs from August 1 - September 5
A full schedule of events can be found below.
Curated by Andy Sturdevant and Sergio Vucci, Common Room will be a temporary curated gathering space within The Soap Factory to facilitate interactivity and the blurring of the boundaries between curators, performers and audience, all within in a casual, livingroom-esque environment. Common Room will be host to a series of events and programming exploring community and interaction. These events will include film screenings and discussions, game night, readings, pot lucks, karaoke, music events and much, much more.
Please Note: the entrance to Common Room is on the side of the building at 110 5th Ave SE (not our main entrance on 2nd St).
Common Room Program:
Saturday, August 1
Movie Night with Community Orchestra
Movie Night with Community Orchestra: Celebrate the opening of Common Room with the first and only performance of the Common Room Community Orchestra. The Orchestra will feature you, playing an instrument of your choosing. All are asked to bring an acoustic musical instrument (guitar, flute, accordion, hippie drums, ukelele, maracas, banjo, washboard, triangle), and together the Orchestra will score a set of silent films chosen by our guest projectionist. If you don't play anything, you may clap along, or simply drink a beer and watch.
Wednesday, August 5
Video Night with Pete McLarnan and Brennan Vance
These two Minneapolis artists Pete present a showcase of cash-strapped filmmakers, video artists, and grant writing enthusiasts, screening the submission samples of local film and video artists who have just recently applied for the State Arts Board and Jerome Foundation film and video grants. The evening will highlight the dreams and ambitions of those who are looking for some help, as well as serve as a gesture of community and mutual support in what is a generally isolated and anonymous group of artists. See the work through the eyes of a grant committee member, reflect on how artists choose to present themselves and their work, and make your own judgements. Informal discussion likely.
Saturday, August 8
Handmade Nation movie premiere and craft fair
Tickets $12 (for film screening)
Screenings at noon and 7pm
Craft Fair, 2 – 6pm, FREE
The Minneapolis premiere of Handmade Nation, a new documentary on the independent arts and crafts movement, will be presented by director Faythe Levine and several other luminaries in the local D.I.Y. community. A discussion with the director will follow both screenings. Get in the crafting spirit and support local artists by coming to the mini-craft fair curated by No Coast Craft-O-Rama between the two screenings. Pre-sale tickets for the screenings will be available at the Crafty Planet in Northeast Minneapolis the week before the event, or at The Soap Factory on the day of.
Tuesday, August 11
Books and Bars: The Time Traveler's Wife
6 – 10pm
The popular Books and Bars book club event collaborates with Common Room and moves to The Soap Factory for discussion of Audrey Niffenegger's The Time Traveler's Wife. Audience interaction events included.
Saturday, August 15
Public Domain Videos: Feats of Strength and YouTube Invitational
7 – 10pm
Join us for a night of curated tour of video shorts related to physical prowess and feats of strength and agility. The curated video portion of the evening will be followed by a YouTube Invitational in which the audience is invited to share videos of intrigue and/or import.
Wednesday, August 19
Literary Night Co-sponsored by Magers and Quinn and Granta Magazine
7 – 10pm
Bring out your inner book nerd with literary games, a lecture on literary hoaxes, and 5-minute book reports.
Saturday, August 22
Music Night with Andy DuCett
7 – 10pm
Installation artist Andy DuCett brings a crateful of LPs from his extensive library and spins them for our listening pleasure. He'll talk about how music influences his own art-making practices, and of course take requests from the dancefloor.
Wednesday, August 26
Game Night
7 – 10pm
The evening will be dedicated to a series of conventional and unconventional games, board and otherwise. Games include, but are not limited to Dictionary, Boggle, Monster Cards, Postcard, and Scrabble.
Saturday, August 29
Guest DJ Dance Party
7 – 10pm
Audience members are invited to bring the heat as guest DJs for the night. Say what you've got to say music-wise and get the party moving with your very own three-song set.
Wednesday, September 2
Lecture Night and Pot Luck
7 – 10pm
Common Room opens the floor for a full evening of presentations, debates, diatribes, lectures and performances, all accompanied by dishes and drinks prepared by you. No subject is off the table!
Saturday, September 5
Karaoke with Mike Hoyt
7 – 10pm
Karaoke Shanty founder Mike Hoyt hosts a karaoke blowout for the Common Room closing night event.
Note: This event coincides with the opening reception for The Austerity Cookbook, in The Soap Factory's main galleries. Come enjoy both events!